9 August 2025

Today, National Women’s Day in South Africa, is all about gender equality and the hurdles girls and women have to overcome. It’s about sacrifices and time to reflect on what happened on August 9 in 1956 when women marched in Pretoria to protest against the vile pass laws.

The theme for today’s National Women’s Day is “building resilience”, a quality typified in spades by jazz singer Brigitte Mitchell. From singing in church choirs and local concerts in Mitchells Plain, she has overcome the odds to make a name for herself overseas.

Brigitte spent more than two decade overseas, most of it in Hong Kong, carving out a new career. She graduated from the top 40 songs she was singing in Cape Town clubs to smooth jazz standards that made her hot property in the former British colony.

With four albums to her name, including the delightful Don’t Explain and In Brazil, Brigitte has built a resilience that showcases an exceptional talent prepared to push the boundaries in exploring new fields.

The young girl from Mitchell’s Plain, who has been back in Cape Town for a while, has a story to tell that can be a source of encouragement for other young women striving to achieve in a man’s world.

Her musical journey started at home where she was coached by her pastor father in singing,

“I started singing at the age of four, trained by my Dad who also had a successful music school,” she says. “I sang in church choirs, solo and duet with my Dad and trio including my older sister.”

“My Dad pushed my vocal ability and taught me incredibly challenging techniques. I loved everything about singing and being able to share stories and creep into the hearts and minds of those who needed the guidance of the songs I sang.

“I value my gospel upbringing immensely. It taught me to sing truthfully and from the heart.”

In between her schooling in West End, Brigitte did variety concerts and at the age of 13 won 1st place in a talent competition.

“The competition offered a chance to work and be signed by the incredible Taliep Petersen. It introduced me to some of the heavy weights in the Cape Town music industry.

“I started singing at concerts with the likes of Alistair Izobel, Leslie Kleinsmith, Zayn Adams, Danny Butler, and Kinners van die 6 which included Lukmaan and Emo Adams.”

From there, Brigitte moved from local variety concerts to fronting fusion bands like Turning Point and performing at hotels and restaurants. She had a spell in working in theatre under the direction of the late Rod Harrod and travelled around the country with Mike McCully’s music theatre production.

But the life of a performer is seasonal and tenuous at best.  Brigitte made sure she had enough strings on her bow to provide in times of need.

“I had graduated as a fashion designer and during those early days I had a day job as a designer for Truworths and made it to head menswear designer,” she says.

Performing was her first love though and with her design skills, an opportunity arose where she could make use of her skill set in both areas in the bustling Hong Kong market.“In the 23 years in Hong Kong, I welcomed my beautiful daughter Hannah in 2007 and started my own luxury fashion brand, Viniga, in 2010,” Brigitte says. “It was showcased at Mercedez Benz Fashion week in 2017.”

On the music side, Brigitte’s debut album, Don’t Explain, which was partly inspired by the legendary jazz singer Billy Holiday, was nominated for a SA Music Award back in 2011.

“The album charted internationally, especially in Hong Kong, where it lived on the jazz charts for several months.”

The move to Hong Kong, for Brigitte, offered a sense of creative liberation. In Cape Town she was constrained by audience demands that was set in its ways.

“I felt that my voice wasn’t very suitable for the music I was singing. However, I had lots of wonderful support from local musicians who always looked out for me and encouraged my musical journey.  They helped me in so many ways musically, gave me guidance, exposure and support.

“Jazz in is true form wasn’t well received at the time, I couldn’t find my musical identity within these genres. Taking that step, to leave my comfort zone, was one of the best decisions I’ve made,” she says.

Her progression to jazz was the culmination of something that had started many years before when her father had given her a set of CDs as a gift.

“It was all classic jazz and I fell in love with the voice of Ella Fitzgerald and the intensity of Billy Holiday. I think that marked my journey and desire to be a jazz singer.

“During my earliest years in Hong Kong, I finally found myself a home in music, the most incredible jazz musicians welcomed me and from there, I grew from strength to strength within the international jazz scene.

“I opened my first jazz club in Hong Kong and it was one of the most desired venues to be invited to. It was very well received.”

In 2014, Brigitte broadened her musical horizons and embraced the joys of Brazilian bossa nova and sambas. “I worked with some of the top musical names in Rio de Janeiro, collaborating with Ney Conceycao to reimagine Brazilian classics on the In Brazil EP.”

For the last few years, for family reasons, Brigitte has been back in South Africa. She has had some gigs performing around Cape Town and at jazz clubs, belting out is a particular type of female vocal jazz songs that is sadly lacking. But it hasn’t been smooth sailing.

“I have a regular invitation to perform at the Blue Room at least twice monthly,” she says. “It is very well received and I absolutely love the venue for its ambience, sound, staff etc.

“Other than this, I did a few odd gigs with Alvin Dyers at Makers Landing, the Piano Lounge, but I haven’t been offered much other since he passed. Having said that, I have tried to introduce my brand to local music venues, but … unfortunately I haven’t been offered any other than the Blue Room.”

Cape Town professes to be something of a jazz mecca.  Why then is this diva struggling to land just a few gigs a months? A little introspection on National Women’s Day from those who claim to love the genre wouldn’t be out of place.

Catch her at the Blue Room club in the city.

Or listen to her music on any of the major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple.  You’ll be more than pleasantly surprised.

Happy National Women’s Day folks!!!

All photos sourced from social media.